By Send Relief staff
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Whether we’re naturally planners or procrastinators, we probably don’t anticipate every disaster or crisis event that could happen to us or our communities. Even if disasters are common where we live, we can grow so accustomed to them that we don’t properly train for them, or we assume everyone will know exactly what to do when something happens.
Training is Urgent
Training to respond in disaster relief is not something you can wait to do until the crisis hits. At that point, you’re too late. Training during the blue-sky days is urgent.
Here are eleven things that training provides for volunteers:
- Training gives us an understanding of disasters and the needs that arise during a crisis. What can we expect? What will people need? Is what we think they’ll need aligned with what will actually be needed?
- Training teaches us an appropriate and effective response during a crisis.
- Training helps us understand our role as part of a response team. It helps a team be coordinated, not scattered.
- Training sharpens our abilities to be most effective as we serve. We want to be an asset, not a hindrance.
- Training helps us to understand hazards and safety concerns in disaster areas.
- Training prepares us to understand the trauma that disaster survivors experience so we can offer appropriate compassion. We want to care well for people.
- Training prepares the hands to serve effectively and utilize your unique giftings during a crisis.
- Training prepares the head by gaining knowledge to serve effectively and safely.
- Training enables better security in disaster areas.
- Training provides an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge, so we are ready when God calls. It enables us to be flexible and able to jump in wherever needed.
- Training helps us meet physical needs confidently and graciously so we can then point people back to someone who wants to meet their every need—Jesus Christ!
___
For more about how your church can meet needs and change lives in responding to a crisis, check out Send Relief’s “How to Be a Disaster-Ready Church” course.
For more information on Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief, or to donate to ongoing relief efforts, visit this site. For information on upcoming Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief training events, click here.
